Lincoln assists in defense of William D. Davis, charged with killing Henry Louthan in Coles County. Brought to Clark County on change of venue, accused is tried at special session, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years. Abraham Lincoln to Joel A. Matteson, 10 January 1853, CW, 2:187-88.

[About this time, Lincoln writes several pages of "Notes for a Law Lecture." Nicolay and Hay date these fragments "July 1, 1850?" "But it seems probable," says Basler, "that Lincoln wrote these observations . . . several years later." Fragment: Notes for a Law Lecture, [1 July 1850?], CW, 2:81-82.

U.S. District Court begins its Chicago session.]